Archived press release

Newbury - Judge allows evictions to continue

26 March 1996

A High Court judge today (Tuesday 26 March) refused an application for a delay in the eviction of protesters at the "Ricketty Bridge" camp on the route of the controversial Newbury Bypass. Counsel for the protesters had argued that the area surrounding the camp was being considered as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) following the discovery of a significant colony of the rare Desmoulin's Whorl Snail (Vertigo moulinsiana) [1]. It was argued that evictions should be stayed until this issue was resolved.

During the hearing an undertaking was given on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport to consult with English Nature on the methods of evictions and clearance with a view to protecting the habitat of the snail. An undertaking was also given not to use bulldozers and other heavy machinery during evictions and clearance. Friends of the Earth therefore does not expect evictions to take place in the next few days to allow English Nature to consult with the Under Sheriff on engineering issues and furthermore, does not expect the evictions to involve hydraulic platforms("cherry pickers").

The outcome of this hearing does not in any way effect the designation of this site as an SAC [2]. Friends of the Earth is still pursuing this with the Government and English Nature [3].

Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth said:

"Whilst we are disappointed that the judge has allowed evictions to continue, the Government will still probably have to designate the site as a Special Area of Conservation. If this happens the road will have to be reassessed and the Government will be forced to consider sensible and cheaper alternatives to Newbury's traffic problems. We have asked English Nature to ensure that any evictions do not in any way damage this potential SAC."

In a further development, birds are reported to be nesting at Ricketty Bridge. According to protesters on site, a duck has laid a clutch of eggs within the boundary of the camp and other birds are building nests. The Highways Agency have said they will not fell trees with birds nesting in them.NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The snail is protected under the European Habitats Directive which requires the Government to protect the best sites as SAC's.

[2] A survey of the area, carried out for Friends of the Earth by snail expert, Dr Martin Willing, Conservation Officer of the Conchological Society, found that "compared to other sites studied by the author...over a twenty year period this area supported one of the densest populations[of snails] ever seen".

[3] English Nature, the Government's nature conservation advisers, have confirmed that the site is under consideration as a SAC, but surveys of alternative areas "will take some weeks to complete"

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